Hi crawling my ds has high functioning autism . When he was younger he hated bright sunshine and endlessly asked repetitive questions about bus numbers.He was also very anxious and hated loud noises and still does.He would also arrive at pre school and sit down with the train and ignore everything and everyone else.He was also quite fussy about food and we had a lengthy pasta and cheese phase .I don't know if any ofthishes but good luck

although recognising behaviour as a symptom of autism is very useful, i think keeping a diary to record any patterns/triggers is one of the best tools i was recommended to use when DD was having assessments

Agree with keeping a diary and also video anything of note, neither of which I did

My ds is nearly 10, some of his features are:

Obsessive behaviourContinual monologue with no care whether listener either understands or is interestedVery poor social skillsUnable to recognise emotions in self or others unless very explicitAggressive behaviour, used to be mostly school, now mostly homeMeltdownsAnxiety (has expressed suicidal thoughts)Sensory difficulties (lots)No inner voice, must say everything he thinksNon-compliantNeeds strict routinesCannot cope with change/transitionsFidgety and sensory seekingHas deep/technical knowledge in his favourite subjectsUnderstands and can replicate genre in his own film-making and story-writingIncredible memoryAttention to detailPedanticVery strong sense of justice and fairnessFascinated by language, went through a spell of speaking without consonantsIs very much his own person, does not care what others think, is not swayed by peer pressure and has no role modelsVery funnyCan be exceptionally kind and thoughtful when another persons distress is obvious or in terms of general ethical awareness (understands and chooses free range and fair trade)

Long, long ago, I once posted Goblinchild's guide to possible symptoms.Here it is again.

Some people have asked if their child has AS and then gone on to describe behaviour and sensitivities, so I wondered if this might help. The following is not meant in any way to be professional advice, I'm just a parent with a teen Aspie, but it might help some individuals decide if they want to explore certain issues a little further or ask for guidance from professionalsIt is by no means a complete or exhaustive list, and does not cover co-morbid symptoms that may be attached to AS. And yes, for all the NTs reading, We know that most children do most of these things at some point.

Main characteristicsDifficulties with social relationships.Not picking up signals and info that NTs take for granted such as facial expressions, intonation and inferred information.

Difficulties with communication.May speak fluently but take little notice of reactions, may monologue, may not be aware of audience's feelings or reactions.May be over-precise, formal or literal in speech. Jokes, metaphors, sayings, figurative language may cause total confusion, stress, meltdowns etc.

Difficulties with social imagination, imaginative play and flexible thinking.This one causes some confusion as people say 'Well, he plays with his lego and makes up stories and has imagination, so...?'It's the social aspect of imaginative play that can cause difficulties. If the child is in total control of their 'world' and setting the agenda, then they are being imaginative. AS children find it difficult to play when other individuals are involved that have different ideas or who don't perform as expected, unlike a lego or toy figure.Abstract thinking is another area of difficulty, although the child may learn facts and figures easily, dealing with abstract concepts, without clear outcomes may be a challenge. Subjects like literature, religion and philosophy.

They may also be:socially awkward and clumsy in social relationships with othersnaive and gullible, a good rule of thumb is that many Aspies function at an emotional age 2/3 that of their chronological age.unaware of how others feelunable to carry on a 'give and take' conversationupset by any change in routines and transitions, often undetectable to NTsliteral in speech and understandingoverly sensitive to lights, noise, odours, tastes and tactile sensations again often undetectable by NTshave fixed interests or obsessionsphysically awkward in sports, often those that require simultaneous application of different skills.Not a team player in any sense.Possiblyhave an unusually accurate memory for detailssleeping or eating issues that cause problemstrouble understanding and processing things they have heard or readInappropriate facial expressions or body languageunusual speech patterns, repetative or irrelevant remarksstilted, formal speechoverly loud, high or monotonous voicestims that may involve rocking, fidgeting, joint cracking, humming, pacing...

will now stop if I am talking but then carry on where he left off without changing his subject out of politeness! Will carry on talking even if I had got up and left the room and just follow.

Gets grubby face and clothes and does not notice, has to be reminded to wash, clean teeth. But on the other hand hates the feel of soap, slime, or any goo on his hands.

Loves heavy touch, rolling about, wrestles, firm grip.

light touch, tickling, tapping or stroking of hair etcDoes not like kisses turns head down to forehead when attempted. Hugs are allowed and offered but head goes to one side and minimal grip.

Has tics, cracks fingers, neck, throat clears, clicks, spins, claps hands, still skips when he is happy even though he is nearly 8.

hates crowded noisy areas even though he has no volume control himself.

Would spend his entire pocket money sitting on a spinning ride in the fair all day locked into his own world rather than interact.

Has hallucinations of seeing people he knows walking down the road when its his "picture memory" thinking.

Hates clothes. Will wear but has to be tight on feet and only the same type been bought for last 5 years. Sock seams are a no no. Loves fleece and hiding under it or wrapping himself up in blankets and piling my sofa cushions all on top of him to watch a film to help him stay put.

Loves food but not mushy mashed stuff just plain solid foods and fruits. World war would erupt if sauce touches peas.

He hand flaps, jumps, spins, skips, tongue clicks, licks and spits but mostly the spitting noise, he moves his tongue side to side really fast.

Loves Thomas and lines his trains according to size numbers and type of engine eg diesels in one group

Watch cars 2 all the time in particular one chapter of the DVD over and over again.

Plays alongside his 'friends' at nursery rather than with them

Talks at people rather than to them

Is quite loving towards me but only to get tummy, head or back tickled

Only goes near his dad for rough play but hates being upside down

Washes hands all the time does not like to be sticky or dirty

Will refuse to participate in non uniform days and pe as he will not remove clothes

Will not wear clothes if they are new, creased, have a button missing or stain on or if he just decides he doesn't like them, have to wash new clothes and show them to him for about 4-6 weeks before he will wear them

He is good with food loves strong flavours but is particular about type or colour of plates and cutlery and cups

Walks on tip toes

Speech before 12 months could count to 15 at 18 months and he loves numbers and can read number plates and door numbers, was playing a game on my phone and read out that the level was '71'

Dislikes change was doing 3 days at nursery but had to switch to 5 mornings as he couldn't cope with change of staff in afternoons, even tho he does mornings now he still insists on taking lunch to school and bringing it home to eat even tho he is only there til 11.55, at weekends he eats lunch out of lunchbox and sandwiches have to be wrapped in cling film before he will eat them!

Crawling he its going well could you please say if you're happy to what age your ds is and ill try to remember what ds was like at that age .i don't know if it will help but try to remember so e more of his many quirks

Theory of mind was incredibly poor.No empathy, friend falls over "what's his problem". Literal. I say " in a minute" , he starts counting.Obsessive about star wars/ binweevils etc.Memory. Can remember every score from last seasons premiership matches. Truthful. Over truthful. Self reliant , uncaring, a-social, yet sobs and wants to die because he is lonely and has no friends.

Iwrote a list of all the things he had done and said, going as far back ad I could remember. All the things that had shocked me, puzzled me, embarrassed me. She kept my list. She said nearly every thing was relevant and significant.